After a compelling 2025 season, the FIA Formula 3 Championship moves into its eighth campaign in 2026 with technical continuity and competitive depth firmly in place. Teams will again run the Dallara F3 2025 chassis on 16-inch Pirelli tyres and 100 percent sustainable fuel, mirroring Formula 1’s broader direction. With a refreshed mix of new arrivals, returning contenders, and a subtly revised calendar, Formula 3 remains the stage where raw potential is forced to become complete performance.
2026 Calendar and Key Changes
The FIA Formula 3 calendar for 2026 retains its familiar structure, featuring 10 race weekends and 20 races across ten venues. Compared to 2025, changes are concentrated primarily in the final phase of the season, while the overall rhythm of the championship remains intact. Formula 3 will conclude its season on the newly developed Madrid street circuit, replacing Imola.
The championship continues with its established ten-weekend format, with two races per event: a Sprint Race and a Feature Race. The Sprint Race uses a reverse-grid format for the top 12 qualifiers, while both races award points to the top ten finishers.
There are no major technical changes for 2026. Formula 3 will continue to build on the Dallara F3 2025 chassis introduced last season, with identical cars and power units across the grid. Fuel allocation limits and safety systems remain unchanged, and the series continues to run on 100 percent sustainable fuel, in line with Formula 1’s direction.
The headline shift for 2026 is therefore not technical, but contextual. The addition of Madrid and the removal of Imola subtly change the late-season pressure points, adding a new street-circuit variable to a championship where margins are often decided in tenths rather than seconds.
Teams and Drivers for 2026
The 2026 Formula 3 season features ten confirmed teams, largely unchanged from previous years. Each outfit fields three drivers. With reigning champion Rafael Câmara moving up and several drivers leaving for other categories, the competitive landscape has reshaped significantly.
Campos Racing
Campos Racing enters the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season as the reigning Teams’ Champion, after a 2025 campaign defined by execution rather than individual dominance. The Spanish outfit secured the teams title through consistent podium finishes and sustained points accumulation, even without claiming the Drivers’ Championship. Therefore, the challenge for 2026 shifts towards defending that collective strength under renewed internal pressure.
For the new season, Campos fields Théophile Naël, Ugo Ugochukwu, and Ernesto Rivera, while key contributors from 2025 move on. Nikola Tsolov steps up to Formula 2 with Campos, Mari Boya joins PREMA, and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak continues his career with ART. As a result, Campos commits to a younger lineup while preserving its established operational identity.
Théophile Naël returns for his second Formula 3 campaign after a strong rookie season with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2025. He finished eighth in the Drivers’ Championship and recorded three podium finishes, which highlighted his race pace across varied circuit profiles. Consequently, Naël enters his first season with Campos Racing as a proven points scorer, with regular podium contention as a realistic target.
Ugo Ugochukwu also continues for a second season after switching from PREMA to Campos in 2025. He secured two podium finishes as a rookie and ended the year sixteenth overall, despite several disrupted weekends. Therefore, improved qualifying execution and race stability should place him firmly inside the top ten more frequently.
Ernesto Rivera completes the lineup as a Formula 3 rookie following a title winning Eurocup Three season in 2025, where he claimed three victories and demonstrated strong one lap pace. Moreover, Red Bull Junior Team backing and prior collaboration with Campos provide a stable foundation. As a result, expectations centre on rapid adaptation and immediate points contributions.
Trident
Trident enters the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season as the competitive reference of the current era. The Italian team secured the 2025 Drivers’ Championship with Rafael Câmara and finished inside the leading group in the Teams’ standings. Moreover, Trident has delivered three consecutive Drivers’ titles from 2023 to 2025, which underlines the effectiveness of its operational structure and driver development pathway.
For 2026, Trident commits to continuity at the team level while refreshing its driver lineup. The squad fields Noah Strømsted, Freddie Slater, and Matteo De Palo, and it approaches the season with a clear objective of remaining in title contention rather than entering a transition phase.
Noah Strømsted returns for his second Formula 3 campaign after finishing sixth overall in 2025. He secured a Sprint Race podium at Spa and demonstrated strong situational awareness across varying circuit types. Therefore, Trident will rely on Strømsted as a performance stabiliser, with consistency and technical feedback forming the backbone of his role.
Freddie Slater steps into Formula 3 as one of the youngest drivers on the grid. He arrives following a successful junior career that included multiple race wins across lower single seater categories. Additionally, he operates within a manufacturer backed development structure linked to Audi, which supports his long term progression. As a result, the initial focus will rest on adaptation speed and race execution rather than immediate championship pressure.
Matteo De Palo completes the lineup after capturing the 2025 Eurocup Three Championship with multiple victories. He paired strong qualifying performance with decisive racecraft during his title run. Consequently, Trident expects De Palo to transition quickly into regular points scoring, provided he adapts smoothly to Formula 3 tyre behaviour and race management demands.
MP Motorsport
MP Motorsport enters 2026 positioned as a proven front running force rather than an emerging challenger. The Dutch outfit finished third in the 2025 Teams’ Championship with 177 points, supported by one race victory and five additional podiums. Therefore, the objective now shifts from consolidation to applying sustained pressure at the top of the standings.
For the new season, MP retains a core of experience while integrating high ceiling rookie potential through Alessandro Giusti, Tuukka Taponen, and Mattia Colnaghi. Importantly, all three drivers arrive with prior familiarity with the team environment, which reduces adaptation risk.
Alessandro Giusti returns for his second FIA Formula 3 campaign after delivering a composed rookie season. The Williams Driver Academy member scored two podium finishes in 2025 and established himself as a consistent points contributor. Consequently, MP will expect Giusti to convert experience into regular top five contention rather than isolated peaks.
Tuukka Taponen also enters his sophomore season with unfinished business. He showed strong early season form in 2025 before momentum dropped during the middle phase of the calendar, ultimately finishing ninth in the standings. As a result, his focus for 2026 centres on race execution and consistency across varied circuit profiles, which remains the final step toward podium regularity.
Mattia Colnaghi completes the lineup as one of the most credentialed rookies on the grid. The Italian dominated the 2025 Eurocup 3 championship after claiming the 2024 Spanish Formula 4 title, establishing a clear record of converting opportunity into results. Moreover, his previous campaigns with MP in lower categories provide a stable foundation for rapid adaptation at the Formula 3 level.
ART Grand Prix
ART Grand Prix approaches the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season with a clear developmental reset. The French team commits to an all rookie lineup, following a 2025 campaign that delivered steady points and operational stability rather than headline results. Therefore, ART now prioritises continuity inside the garage while accelerating driver adaptation.
For 2026, ART fields Taito Kato, Kanato Le, and Maciej Gładysz, each entering Formula 3 through a different junior pathway. Importantly, all three drivers arrive with recent race winning or podium level experience, which aligns with ART’s long term driver development philosophy.
Taito Kato steps up after an extended period inside the ART structure. He finished seventh in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship, scored two podiums, and previously secured the 2024 French Formula 4 title. Consequently, ART will expect Kato to act as an internal reference during the early phase of the season, particularly in qualifying execution and race rhythm.
Kanato Le joins Formula 3 as another ART graduate and a Ferrari Driver Academy member. He placed fourteenth in FRECA in 2025 and progressed steadily across the season rather than through isolated results. As a result, his immediate focus will rest on consistency and tyre management, supported by his familiarity with ART’s working environment.
Maciej Gładysz completes the lineup after a decisive 2025 Eurocup-3 championship, where he claimed multiple victories and controlled the title fight with authority. Therefore, he enters Formula 3 with proven race winning confidence and momentum. ART will look to channel that aggression into disciplined execution as he adapts to the higher intensity of the category.
Van Amersfoort Racing
Van Amersfoort Racing enters 2026 with upward momentum clearly established. The Dutch squad scored three race victories in 2025 and secured fifth place in the Teams’ Championship, its strongest result since joining the modern FIA Formula 3 era. As a result, expectations now shift from breakthrough moments toward sustained competitiveness.
For the new season, VAR fields Bruno del Pino, Jesse Carrasquedo, and Hiyu Yamakoshi, a lineup that blends category experience with targeted rookie development. Importantly, the structure allows the team to build around continuity while accelerating adaptation for its newest drivers.
Bruno del Pino returns for his second Formula 3 campaign after moving across from MP. During 2025 he claimed a Sprint Race podium at Imola and scored points across multiple weekends, establishing himself as a reliable midfield reference. Therefore, VAR will lean on del Pino for technical direction and race management stability.
Jesse Carrasquedo steps into his first full FIA Formula 3 season following a limited debut in 2025. He contested two race weekends and achieved a thirteenth place finish in a Feature Race, which provided early exposure rather than immediate results. Consequently, his priority centers on shortening the learning curve and contributing points as consistency improves.
Hiyu Yamakoshi completes the lineup with strong familiarity inside the VAR environment. He finished third in the 2024 Italian Formula 4 Championship with two wins and five podiums and later delivered podium finishes for VAR in Formula Regional Europe. Because of that continuity, Yamakoshi enters 2026 with a reduced adaptation window despite his rookie status in Formula 3.
PREMA Racing
PREMA Racing approaches 2026 with the explicit goal of returning to the front after an off-pace 2025 campaign. The Italian outfit finished seventh in the Teams’ Championship, its worst result since FIA Formula 3 adopted its current structure and failed to secure a race win, underscoring the need for a reset rather than continuity.
For the upcoming season, PREMA fields a wholly refreshed driver lineup in Louis Sharp, James Wharton, and Enzo Deligny, pairing second-year experience with developmental upside.
Louis Sharp returns for a sophomore F3 campaign after stepping up from Rodin Motorsport. In 2025 he finished 26th in the championship and scored multiple points finishes, a modest but measurable first season that laid groundwork for improvement. As the 2023 GB3 champion, Sharp arrives at PREMA with proven race-winning credentials and a clear mandate: elevate his qualifying and race pace toward regular top-ten contention.
James Wharton brings previous experience with the team back into PREMA’s fold after his 2025 season with ART Grand Prix. Wharton captured his maiden F3 victory in a Sprint Race at Spielberg and finished 18th in the standings, highlighting flashes of pace that are now paired with familiarity in an environment he knows well. The emphasis for 2026 will be consistency, turning sporadic strong results into a reliable scoring rhythm.
Enzo Deligny steps up from the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, where he earned multiple podiums and a third-place finish in the standings. His progression through the junior ranks culminates in this rookie F3 season, with PREMA projecting him as the driver most likely to transition quickly to the category’s intensity. Deligny’s adaptability and recent momentum give him a baseline to target points finishes early while building toward stronger race execution.
Hitech TGR
Hitech TGR enters 2026 aiming to convert peak speed into repeatable results. The British outfit finished eighth in the 2025 Teams’ Championship with 90 points and claimed two race victories, which confirmed its ability to reach the front. However, inconsistent execution prevented a sustained top five challenge. Therefore, the focus now moves from outright pace to operational stability.
For 2026, Hitech introduces an entirely new driver lineup with Michael Shin, Jin Nakamura, and Fionn McLaughlin. The team prioritises development potential and adaptability rather than immediate championship pressure. As a result, expectations centre on progression across the season rather than early peaks.
Michael Shin begins his first full FIA Formula 3 campaign after limited race appearances in 2023. He arrives following a strong 2025 Euroformula Open season, where he scored multiple wins and podiums and finished inside the top group overall. Consequently, Hitech will treat Shin as the initial pace reference, with qualifying execution and race consistency as his first benchmarks.
Jin Nakamura steps up with a broad junior foundation. He finished second in Japanese Formula 4 in 2023 and later placed tenth in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship, while also securing race victories in Euroformula competition. Therefore, his role focuses on structured progression and reliable race management rather than headline results.
Fionn McLaughlin completes the lineup as the youngest driver in the squad. He won the 2025 British Formula 4 Championship after finishing third in the Formula Winter Series and already gained winter mileage ahead of his rookie F3 season. Because of his long standing relationship with Hitech, adaptation should come quickly, even as consistency remains the primary target.
AIX Racing
AIX Racing enters the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season with clear momentum from its sophomore campaign, having amassed 52 points in 2025, secured multiple pole positions, and demonstrated genuine one-lap pace at premier circuits such as Spa and Monza. The team’s task this year is converting that speed into sustained results rather than isolated highlights.
For 2026, the UAE-based outfit assembles a balanced line up of experience and emerging talent in Brad Benavides, Yevan David, and Fernando Barrichello. A combination that blends measured progress with developmental runway.
Brad Benavides returns for his second full F3 season and his third campaign with AIX after a 2025 breakthrough year. The American driver, who finished 20th in the standings despite missing early rounds, delivered his strongest performances late in the season, including multiple pole positions. Notably at Spa and Monza, alongside a top-four Feature Race finish. Translating qualifying strength into regular race execution and points will be his central objective in 2026.
Yevan David steps into FIA Formula 3 after a standout 2025 in the Euroformula Open Championship, where he finished second overall and secured multiple race victories. If confirmed as the first Sri Lankan driver in F3, his transition into the category marks a significant milestone in talent diversification while adding a proven racer to the grid. Early season goals for David will centre on tyre management, race rhythm, and consistent points scoring.
Fernando Barrichello completes the lineup as a full-season rookie following his end-of-season outing with AIX in Monza. The Brazilian comes with solid junior credentials, including multiple podiums and race wins in the Euroformula Open and experience in European F4. Barrichello’s focus will be on structured adaptation to F3 machinery and regular top-ten contention, leveraging his familiarity with the team environment gained during post-season running.
DAMS Lucas Oil
DAMS Lucas Oil enters the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season focused on measurable progression after a challenging debut campaign in 2025. The French outfit completed its first year on the grid finishing 10th in the Teams’ Championship with 30 points and now turns its operational learning into a platform for clearer weekend execution and tighter qualifying performances.
For the upcoming season, DAMS fields Nicola Lacorte, Nandhavud “Jem” Bhirombhakdi, and Gerrard Xie, a combination that prioritises continuity and adaptation over immediate results while building toward a more competitive baseline.
Nicola Lacorte returns for a second campaign with the team after a difficult rookie season in 2025, where he finished 31st in the standings without scoring points. Continuity with DAMS gives him a stronger reference point for qualifying preparation and race management, and the early phases of 2026 will be centred on stabilising his midfield positioning.
Nandhavud “Jem” Bhirombhakdi steps up to FIA Formula 3 after stints in regional series, including two seasons in Formula Regional Europe. He participated in extensive post-season testing with DAMS ahead of 2026, suggesting the team values his adaptability and developmental trajectory. Benchmarking his progress against Lacorte’s experience will be crucial, with his immediate goal being tighter qualifying execution and consistent points contention.
Gerrard Xie completes the DAMS lineup for his second full F3 campaign, having joined the team for 2026 after spending his rookie season with Hitech in 2025. The Chinese driver, the 2022 Chinese F4 champion, scored limited points last year but arrives with another year of F3 exposure and the opportunity to translate that experience into steadier race results within a more stable team environment.
Conclusion
The 2026 Formula 3 season promises a mix of continuity and fresh challenges. With known cars but a new track and calendar tweaks, consistency will be tested on new terms. The title fight is wide open: Campos Racing seeks to repeat, Prema and Trident want to reclaim the lead, and hungry newcomers (Sharp, Slater, Naël, etc.) will all aim high. Fans should watch how rookies adapt to F3 (past seasons show winners often come from second-years).
Keep an eye on these rising stars: on form, one of them could be the next F1 champion.
Featured Image Credit: Prema Racing